The document provides an overview of the history and development of modern dance. It began in the early 20th century as pioneers rejected the structural formality of ballet and sought more freedom of expression. Key figures mentioned include Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Twyla Tharp. The document also discusses how modern dance influenced ballet and how genres have continued blending over time.

1. By: Teagan Reese
Sam Wallman
Amber Woods

2.  15th century
 France and Italy
 Modern dance broke away from
the classical companies
 Characteristics:
 Storyline is a fairytale or
fable
 Elaborate costumes
 Pantomime to show the
plot
 Modern dancers wanted to
feel more expression in the
upper body, have a better
connection with movement,
and be able to have a more
fluid approach.

4.  Originated in the early 20th century
 Pioneered a new freer movement style.
 Favoring bare feet v. pointe shoes.
 Early subject matter was often political or
psychological.
 Many drew from archaic or exotic sources.
 Rejected structural formality and
sometimes thematic frivolity.

5.  Was Born 1877 in San Francisco
 Was interested in Greek styles of dance
 Emancipated woman ahead of her time
 Given a school by the government of Russia
 Danced to the rhythm of life, this was
Isadoras dance technique.
 Had a traumatic life which influenced the
rest of her dance.

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=mhzjCSqwL_0&feature=related

10.  Started with ballet, skirt dancing and the
Delsarte technique
 Characteristics of her new style:
 Exotic
 Theatrical
 Spiritual based

12.  Inspired by the Egyptian Deities Cigarette
poster
 Put more religious and spiritual feelings into
classical dance
 Took movements from Egypt and Asia
 Radha (1906)
 East Indian Nautch Dance (1932)

13. Cigarette Poster:
 Powerful Stance
 Was captured by the
colorful plants and
exotic wildlife
 Sitting at the foot of
the Nile

16.  Was an Influential American dancer, teacher,
and choreographer of modern dance
 Ballets and other works were intended to
“reveal the inner man.”
 Became acquainted with oriental art
 Enchanted by the religious mysticism of Ruth
St. Denis.
 Performed an Aztec Ballet (Xochitl)

21.  In 1953, Merce
Cunningham Dance
Company was formed.
 Was a lifetime partner
with John Cage.
 Fused Grahm’s
technique with ballet.

22.  He and Cage created
many radical
innovations.
 Decided that dance and
music should be
independent from one
another.
 Most famous and
controversial
conclusion they had
proposed.

23.  Stripped dance of it’s literary and narrative
context.
 Isolated it from it’s musical accompaniment
 By the end of the 20th century, the barriers
between ballet and modern dance were less
pronounced.

24.  Influenced by the idea of chance.
 Located the source of movement in the spine.
 Bare-footed
 Embraced the natural movements
of running, jumping and falling.
 Unlikeballet, used noise like breathing or foot
scuffles.

26.  Her parents ran a
drive-in movie theater.
 She was exposed to
popular culture.
 Later incorporated this
into her dances.
 Founded Twyla Tharp
dance.
 Combined ballet
technique with natural
movements like
running, walking and
skipping.

27.  Wanted to evolve a
technique that they felt they
owned.
 Reverted back to simple
movements, that they
felt belonged to
everybody.
 Created “Deuce Coupe”
which used both modern &
ballet techniques.
 This combination was
sometimes called the
“cross-over” ballet.

28.  Worked less with contemporary music and more
with classical, pop, clicking monotones or silence.
 Audiences loved her physical daring and
jazz roots.
 Caught viewers attention with her 1971 piece,
The Fugue.
 “no costumes, no music, no lights…”
 Twelve years later she returned to the
simplicity of The Fugue with In The Upper
Room.

30.  Contemporary (Lyrical):
 Fusion of Modern, Ballet, and Jazz
 Conveys emotion of the songs lyrics through body
movements
 Story throughout the song evolves
 Modern Dance now:
 Has blended with other forms of dance
 Less strictly Modern dancers
 Companies have molded it into their performance
art

31.  Modern dance influenced today's ballet
companies
 Contemporary ballet:
 George Balanchine- founder of the
contemporary ballet
 Less classical tutus, flowing costumes, story
less ballets, prominent role of the corps de
ballet, developing prominence of the male
dancer
 Ballet dancers wanted more expression, focus
to be put on their movements, but were less
radical than the modern dancers

32.  Martha Graham Dance Company
 Isadora Duncan Dance Company
 Twyla Tharp Dance
 Merce Cunningham Dance Company
 Alvin Ailey
 Complexions Contemporary Ballet
 Hubbard Street